Ezekiel 28 9

Ezekiel 28:9 kjv

Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.

Ezekiel 28:9 nkjv

"Will you still say before him who slays you, 'I am a god'? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you.

Ezekiel 28:9 niv

Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.

Ezekiel 28:9 esv

Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?

Ezekiel 28:9 nlt

Will you then boast, 'I am a god!'
to those who kill you?
To them you will be no god
but merely a man!

Ezekiel 28 verses

Ezekiel 28 9 Meaning

Ezekiel 28:9 exposes the King of Tyre's proud, self-proclaimed divinity as a profound delusion, utterly false when confronted with the reality of his imminent destruction. Under the power of his executioner, he will be compelled to admit his true, limited humanity, stripped of all claims to godhood and revealed as completely powerless before a superior force. The verse underscores the futility and hubris of human arrogance against divine judgment, highlighting God's absolute sovereignty and the perishable nature of man.

Ezekiel 28 9 Context

Ezekiel 28 begins with a pronouncement against the King of Tyre, stemming from his overwhelming pride and self-exaltation. This ruler, enriched by his maritime city's vast trade and strategic location, had become convinced of his own unparalleled wisdom, strength, and even divinity. Verses 1-10 specifically condemn this boastful heart, depicting him sitting "in the seat of the gods" in the midst of the seas (v. 2), believing himself to be ’ēl (God) despite being merely ’ādām (man). The surrounding verses detail how God will bring foreign armies, described as the most ruthless of nations, to execute judgment upon Tyre, revealing the king's ultimate vulnerability and mortal nature. Verse 9 specifically highlights the dramatic moment of truth during this divine reckoning, where the king's arrogant claims will shatter under the sword of his destroyer, forcing a humiliating confession of his true, frail identity. While some interpreters see the entire chapter as only concerning the historical King of Tyre, many consider verses 11-19, often paralleled with Isaiah 14, as moving beyond a merely human king to describe a deeper spiritual adversary, Lucifer/Satan, through the type of the earthly king. This interpretation further amplifies the thematic message of the profound danger and inevitable downfall of pride that seeks to usurp divine prerogatives.

Ezekiel 28 9 Word analysis

• Will you then say (תֹּאמַר - tō'mar): The phrase indicates a question posed by the prophet, but functions as a rhetorical challenge implying a definitive negative outcome. It points to the utter futility and powerlessness of the king's claims under duress, highlighting that such declarations of deity will be forcibly suppressed. It is not a free declaration but a desperate, ironic last gasp.

• before him who kills you (לִפְנֵי הֹרְגֶךָ - lif'nei hor'gekhā): "Before him" (לִפְנֵי, lif'nei) emphasizes the direct, unavoidable confrontation. "Who kills you" (הֹרְגֶךָ, hor'gekhā) explicitly names the executor of divine judgment, which, in the broader context of Ezekiel, is implicitly God's instrument (like Nebuchadnezzar's army) or God Himself as the ultimate executioner. This personifies the instrument of divine wrath.

• 'I am God' (אֵל אָנֹכִי - 'ēl 'ānōkhī): This is the precise, audacious claim made by the King of Tyre in verse 2 ("I am God, I sit in the seat of the gods"). אֵל (El) is a general term for God or a powerful deity. אָנֹכִי (anokhi) is the strong, emphatic first-person pronoun "I". Here, it becomes a mockable confession, ironically contrasted with his current predicament.

• though you are but a man (וְאַתָּה אָדָם וְלֹא אֵל - wə'attāh 'ādām wə-lō' 'ēl): "Though you are but a man" directly confronts and negates the king's arrogant claim. אדם (’ādām) means man/human, signifying fragility and mortality. This statement highlights the stark, unchangeable contrast between mortal man and the immortal, true God.

• and no god (וְלֹא אֵל - wə-lō' 'ēl): This reiteration directly refutes any lingering notion of divinity, reinforcing the absolute falsity of the king's boast. It denies the substance of his former identity, underscoring that he is not, and never was, divine.

• in the hand of him who slays you (בְּיַד הֹרְגֶךָ - bə'yad hor'gekhā): בְּיַד (bə'yad), literally "in the hand of", signifies complete submission, control, and utter powerlessness. It conveys being completely at the mercy of another, mirroring the first part of the verse. The repetition of הֹרְגֶךָ (hor'gekhā - "him who slays you") solidifies the certainty and inescapable nature of this fatal encounter.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Will you then say... 'I am God'": This phrase-group encapsulates the king's delusional pride and the prophet's scornful challenge. It presents the pinnacle of his hubris juxtaposed against his inevitable fall. The rhetorical question suggests that in his moment of greatest terror, he will be unable to maintain his façade of divinity.
  • "before him who kills you... in the hand of him who slays you": These two phrases form a powerful parallel and intensify the message of absolute helplessness. They vividly paint the picture of the king cornered, with no escape, entirely subjected to the power of his executioner. The repetition drives home the inescapability of his doom and the overwhelming dominance of the agent of divine judgment.
  • "'I am God,' though you are but a man, and no god": This contrasts the false claim of divinity with the unalterable reality of human mortality. It is the core theological tension of the verse – the usurpation of God's identity by a creature, which will be powerfully exposed as fraudulent during judgment.

Ezekiel 28 9 Bonus section

The concept of a king claiming divinity was prevalent in many ancient Near Eastern cultures (e.g., Egyptian Pharaohs, Mesopotamian rulers who were seen as divinely appointed or embodying deity). Ezekiel 28:9 is a direct polemic against such claims, asserting YHWH's exclusive divinity over against any human or created being. This theological stance reinforced Israel's monotheism and contrasted sharply with pagan ideologies of kingship. Furthermore, this verse (along with its chapter) serves as an eschatological and typological prophecy for many biblical scholars. While directly addressed to the historical King of Tyre, its hyperbolic language about a being who claims godhood and then falls, resonates strongly with later descriptions of Satan's original sin and fall from grace (cf. Isaiah 14:12-15). In this interpretation, the King of Tyre functions as a type of Lucifer, providing a chilling depiction of the ultimate consequence of pride and attempting to usurp God's divine glory. The verse also underscores the concept of a divine paradox: God, being God, willingly takes on humanity (Phil 2), whereas fallen creatures, being human, aspire to become God, always with disastrous results.

Ezekiel 28 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 28:9 is a potent biblical affirmation of God's singular sovereignty and an emphatic refutation of human self-deification. It serves as a stark warning that no amount of worldly power, wisdom, or wealth can elevate a creature to the level of the Creator. The King of Tyre, intoxicated by his own achievements, epitomized the hubris that believes itself self-sufficient, even divine. This verse captures the moment of his inevitable and ultimate humiliation: when confronted by the agent of divine judgment, all pretenses of deity will shatter. He will be forced to confess, not through free will, but through the brutal reality of his impending death, that he is merely human – weak, mortal, and completely dependent. This truth stands in sharp contrast to God's unchanging nature. Theologically, it reminds all of humanity, and particularly those in positions of power, that pride leads to a devastating fall, and true power rests solely with the One who both gives and takes life. Practically, it calls believers to humility, to recognize their created status, and to worship God alone. Examples like Pharaoh, Herod Agrippa, and even Nebuchadnezzar (before his restoration) illustrate rulers who were humbled by God for their pride.